SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMASThis months favourite finds is very topical, covers many of my growing interests in environmental issues, and has the added seasonal bonus of giving plenty of Christmas stocking ideas too. I recently encountered a gem of a little shop called The Sustainable Store in the heart of Blackrock Market, Dublin. Its mission is to ‘bring plastic free and chemical free products to the local folk’, and with the immanent launch of their website, to the national folks too. It’s a little space that packs a punch for a sustainable future. One of those ‘I’ll have one of everything please’ shops! Each product is carefully researched and has to pass a rigorous test for environmental and ethical manufacturing before it qualifies to become a member of the family. They have done all the research for you to make it that bit easier for you to make a difference this Christmas.

JERRY BOTTLEEliminating the plastic water bottle is the perfect place to start for anyone who is trying to reduce their single use plastics, and the Jerry Bottle is a classic. Cutting out plastic water bottles from you life and refilling your Jerry Bottle can be one of your New Year’s resolutions! 100% of Jerry Bottle profits go to supplying clean water projects in Tanzania and India with the Waterfall Charity and other organizations striving to provide clean water to those without. Jerry Bottle is passionate about the importance of water. Without it there is no life on Earth.

A SLICE OF GREENAs we become more health conscious we’re more inclined to bring wholesome home prepared lunches into school and work, unaware that we are undoing some of our good intentions by storing the food in plastic lunch boxes. Plastic is not only bad for the environment, storing food in plastic boxes leeks toxins into the food, particularly hot food. Stainless steel is clean, safe, durable and made to last. These A Slice of Green stainless steel lunch boxes come in lots of different shapes and sizes. Many of the lunch boxes are leak resistant which is definitely a perk when it comes to school lunch boxes.

BAMBUOne of my favourite items is the Bambu spork - for the combination of it’s handy inventiveness and the word ‘spork’! A complete must have and a fantastic stocking filler for anyone who eats food. Incase it’s not obvious it’s a spoon and a fork rolled into one compact little item. Made of bamboo it comes in a cork sleeve making it pocket ready for your weekend market brunching and munching, so you can proudly announce to the vendor that you won’t be needing plastic single use cutlery. Bamboo is the fastest growing species of grass, it can grow a meter a day and doesn’t need to be replanted after harvesting because of its sturdy root system, it requires no fertilizers or pesticides and it guzzles up carbon dioxide. So many reasons to start a spork revolution!

GEORGANICSPlastic toothbrushes are in the limelight at the moment for their incredible ability to end up on our beaches and in our seas! Each toothbrush takes up to a thousand years to decompose and 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are used worldwide every year. Georganics eco-friendly toothbrush is made from 100% biodegradable bamboo with soft and effective charcoal infused bristles. Georganics toothpastes are completely natural and fluoride free formula, made with vegan and organic ingredients. Their packaging is designed to be plastic free, biodegradable and recyclable. They also have a range of oil pulling mouthwashes – following the ancient ayurvedic practice of oil pulling. It is said to reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and offers a natural alternative to conventional mouthwash. These oils combine coconut oil, which is known for its antimicrobial properties, and other essential oils, to boost its properties and add a fresh after taste.

We generate a huge amount of waste over the Christmas period with our binmen adding extra lifts to keep up with all the extra packaging. This Christmas add a theme of sustainability to your gift giving to counteract the extra load. New good habits are easier to make at the start of a new year. Your new habits can make a big difference for the future.

All of these products, and many more, can be found in The Sustainable Store, Blackrock Market, Dublin. The best way to keep in touch with them is to follow them on Instagram to keep upto date on new products and the launch of their website in December.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPSWelcome to the latest addition to Yogaru. In this new Favourites section I’ll be writing reviews and sharing all my health and wellness finds with you. Sometimes you encounter a new book, or a website, that is so inspirational you want to share it with as many people as possible. The more we share, the wider the message of wellness will grow, which is what Yogaru is all about.

To get the ball rolling, below is a list of my favourite websites, books, podcasts and yoga studios. The list will be constantly evolving so make sure you check back to see what’s new. This is all about sharing information and resources so if you have anything to add to the list, or have a product or business that would fit perfectly I’d love to hear from you.